Container assembly with orientation referencing feature and method

ABSTRACT

A beverage container assembly enhances a user&#39;s ability to manually orient the assembly for safe, spill-free beverage consumption. The assembly includes a beverage container and a lid construction. The beverage container includes select outer container wall surfacing outfitted with certain tactilely distinguishable surfacing. The lid construction includes a primary beverage outlet. The lid construction is attachable to the beverage container such that the primary beverage outlet is situated in superior adjacency to the select outer container wall surfacing. The select outer container wall surfacing including the primary tactile-referencing structure, is in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet for enhancing a user&#39;s ability to reference the primary beverage outlet. The container assembly may be supported by a support structure outfitted with structure that mates with the container assembly for preventing re-orientation of the container assembly once supported.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a beverage containerassembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beveragecontainer assembly outfitted with distinctive tactile surfacing so as toenable the user to manually re-orient the container assembly in apreferred direction by sensing the tactilely diverse surfacing therebyenabling the user to reduce the likelihood of spillage.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

The broad field of lids for hot beverage containers and hot beveragecontainer assemblies inclusive of lids is exceedingly well-developed.The art relating to means for preventing scalding of beverage consumers(by way of preventing spillage of hot beverages from beveragecontainers, for example) is a bit more limited. It is most difficult topinpoint the most pertinent art relevant to the present invention giventhe wide swath of art swept by beverage container constructions anddevelopments. Nevertheless, some of the more pertinent prior is believedto be briefly described hereinafter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,493 ('493 Patent), which issued to Robinson, forexample, discloses an Integrally Molded Measurer Dispenser. The '493Patent describes a closure providing a side wall having first and seconddistal ends, an inner surface and an outer perimeter. A cone-shapeddivider projects inwardly and upwardly from a lower perimeter of theside wall and includes a drain-back orifice therethrough. Thecone-shaped divider further includes an apex having an openingtherethrough. The closure further provides a lid pivotally attached atan outer diameter thereof to the outer perimeter of the side wall firstdistal end by an integral hinge. The lid includes a shaped substantiallyconforming to the side wall perimeter.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,390 ('390 Patent), which issued to Kemp, discloses aContainer Lid with Cooling Reservoir. The '390 Patent describes acontainer lid with a cooling reservoir for releasably covering adisposable cup containing a hot beverage. The cooling reservoir includesa side wall with a small opening to allow a small volume of the hotbeverage to pass into the cooling reservoir in which the beveragesufficiently cools down to enable the consumer to sip the beverage.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,510 ('510 Patent), which issued to Pavlopoulos,discloses a Cup Assembly having a Cooling Compartment. The '510 Patentdescribes a cup assembly comprising a cup and a lid to definetherebetween a first passage and a second passage to allow a liquidcooling compartment between the lid and the cup to be filled with liquidcontained in the cup when the first passage is clear and the secondpassage is blocked and the liquid in the liquid cooling compartment isable to flow out of an outlet in communication with the liquid coolingcompartment when the second passage is clear and the first passage isblocked.

United States Patent Application No. 2007/0062943, which was authored byBosworth, Sr., describes a container lid for a cup-type beverage whichincludes within the lid a disc-shaped media in which the lid is adaptedto be releasably affixed to the beverage container and where the lid isprotected from the beverage within the container and wherein the discmay be removed from the lid and utilized for entertainment purposes.

United States Patent Application No. 2010/0264150, which was authored byLeon et al., describes a disposable beverage cup comprising a ledgebetween the cup's rim and the grasping portion of the cup that iscommonly held in the user's hand. The ledge, which comprises a curb, ahorizontal plane, and one or more indentations, acts as a barrierbetween the user's hand and other objects, preventing a lid that hasbeen press fit onto the cup's rim from being dislodged. In order toremove the lid, the user must insert a finger and/or thumb into theindentation(s) and press upward on the lid. The cup has a contourbetween the ledge and the grasping portion with ergonomic features toincrease the user's comfort in handling the cup.

United States Patent Application No. 2010/0320220, which was authored byHussey et al., describes a plastic lid for a drinks container, forexample, a coffee cup. The plastic lid is provided with an ancillaryaccess facility in the form of an opening or a part of the lid easilyremovable to form an opening. The ancillary access facility allows aperson to drink from the container without removal of the lid. After theancillary access facility has been cleaned or de-contaminated it isprotected by the application of a protective cover.

The protective cover may have a variety of shapes, for example, it maycover the entire lid or it may cover only a selected part of the lid,for example, only the area of the lid involving the ancillary accessfacility. The protective cover protects the ancillary access facilityfrom the inadvertent transfer of germs to the drinking area by theperson dispensing the drinks as they push the lid down with their handsto seal the lid to the container top. The protective covers are arrangedto be easily stripped from the lid by the application of mere fingerpressure.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be noted that the priorart perceives a need for a low cost, disposable hot beverage containerassembly having a combination container-lid construction outfitted withmeans for enabling the user to feel or sense via tactile sensationwhether the container construction is properly oriented so as to enablethe user to selectively and properly orient the container combination soas to avoid scalding during beverage consumption. The prior art thusperceives a need for such a combination hot beverage container-lidconstruction and associated methodology supported thereby as summarizedin more detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the aforementioned and other readily apparent objectives, thepresent invention essentially discloses a disposable type beveragecontainer assembly for enhancing a user's ability to manually orient thebeverage container assembly for efficient and safe beverage consumption.A primary object of the beverage container assembly according to thepresent is to help prevent scalding of the user from accidentallyspilled hot beverage by enhancing the user's ability to properly orientthe beverage container assembly relative to one's mouth prior toconsumption.

A secondary objective according to the present invention is to provide abeverage container assembly with certain tactile-referencing means forenabling the user to manually and properly orient the beverage containerassembly in a select direction upon a support structure for directingselect outer container surfacing in the select direction so as todisplay the select outer container surfacing to passersby or audiences,or would-be consumers. In this regard, the present inventioncontemplates certain beverage container display or orientation-fixationmeans.

The beverage container assembly according to the present inventions anddisclosures are thus contemplated to provide certain low-cost,disposable container-based means for safeguarding a user or hot beverageconsumer from accidental spillage of hot beverage from a beveragecontainer so as to prevent scalding primarily and/or spillagesecondarily. The beverage container assembly according to the presentinvention preferably comprises, in combination a disposable beveragecontainer and a disposable lid construction.

The beverage container preferably comprises outer container wallsurfacing and an upper container rim. The outer container wall surfacingis preferably outfitted with certain primary tactile-referencing meansas exemplified by various types of constructions. The primarytactile-referencing means according to the present invention areoutfitted at or upon the outer container surfacing so as to basicallyprovide the user with a tactile primary reference point, which primaryreference point 18 may provide the user with readily identifiable ordistinguishable tactile type sensory information. The user may thus moreeasily orient the beverage container so as to place or orient selectouter container surfacing in a direction that is most conducive tobeverage consumption, and do so without the need for or requirement ofvisual sensory information.

The lid construction may be preferably oriented and outfitted upon thebeverage container such that the primary beverage outlet of the lidconstruction is in longitudinal alignment with the primarytactile-referencing means. When so oriented and outfitted upon thebeverage container, the primary tactile-referencing means may help theuser align the primary beverage outlet so as to oppose or face theuser's mouth for safer beverage consumption.

The lid construction preferably comprises a lower rim-engaging structuresuch as a rim-receiving groove that receives and/or engages thecontainer rim for fastening the lid construction to the container. Thelid construction further comprises a lid perimeter and the primarybeverage outlet. The primary beverage outlet is preferably locatedinwardly and radially adjacent to the lid perimeter.

The rim-engaging structure is attachable to the upper container rim suchthat the primary beverage outlet becomes situated in superior adjacencyto the select outer container wall surfacing. The select outer containerwall surfacing comprises the primary tactile-referencing means, whichare in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet for enhancingthe user's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet via theprimary tactile-referencing means or primary reference point structure.

The primary tactile-referencing means or reference point, in certainembodiments, may also extend in an upward (or downward) direction fromthe container bottom. Certain embodiments provide primarytactile-referencing means or a primary reference point that hasmulti-functionality including providing the user with means to manuallyorient the select outer container surfacing of the container in thepreferred or select direction, and mating with underlying structure soas to retain the outer container surfacing in the preferred directionsuch as when the container is supported by a support.

The beverage container inherently has or comprises a container bottomand a substantially uniform container height. The container height isessentially defined by the distance intermediate the container bottomand the container rim. Primary and/or secondary tactile-referencingmeans may preferably extend height-wise or longitudinally intermediatethe container bottom and the container rim a distance less than thecontainer height for effectively increasing the surface contact area forproviding tactile sensory information distinguishable from the typicallysmooth outer container surfacing.

The beverage container 11 may further preferably comprise inner wallsurfacing, which inner wall surfacing may be preferably separated fromthe outer wall surfacing with thermally-insulative materials and/orconstruction(s). The primary tactile-referencing means andthermally-insulative material(s) and/or constructions extendintermediate the inner wall surfacing and the outer wall surfacing forthermally insulating the beverage container while simultaneouslyproviding the reference point(s).

While certain primary tactile-referencing means function to providefirst tactile sensory information, certain secondary and thirdtactile-referencing means function to provide second and third types oftactile sensory information. The first, second, and possibly thirdtactile sensory information types are different or structurallydistinguishable for enabling the user to distinguish the primary,secondary and/or tertiary tactile-referencing means via the first,second, and/or third tactile sensory information for enhancing theuser's ability to manually orient the beverage container assembly.

Other readily identifiable objects and structural features of thepresent invention will become more evident from a consideration of thedrawings submitted in support of these specifications as brieflydescribed hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of my invention will become more evident from aconsideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage containeroutfitted with a first type of reference point structure and a lidconstruction, the first type of reference point structure beinglongitudinally aligned with a primary beverage outlet of the lidconstruction.

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional viewof the first type of reference point structure as sectioned from andotherwise depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1B is a fragmentary, enlarged transverse type sectional viewthrough the first type of reference point structure as otherwisedepicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage containeroutfitted with a second type of reference point structure with a firstshape and a lid construction, the second type of reference pointstructure being longitudinally aligned with a primary beverage outlet ofthe lid construction.

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional viewof the second type of reference point structure as sectioned from andotherwise depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2B is a fragmentary, enlarged transverse type sectional viewthrough the second type of reference point structure as otherwisedepicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage containeroutfitted with the second type of reference point structure with asecond shape and a lid construction, the second type of reference pointstructure being longitudinally aligned with a primary beverage outlet ofthe lid construction.

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional viewof the second type of reference point structure as sectioned from andotherwise depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a first top perspective view of a beverage container accordingto the present invention showing a beverage container outfitted with athird type of reference point structure, the third type of referencepoint structure being formed at the container bottom, the beveragecontainer being rotated about its container axis such that the thirdtype of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of thepage relative to the container axis.

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional viewof the third type of reference point structure as sectioned from andotherwise depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a second top perspective view of a beverage containeraccording to the present invention showing a beverage containeroutfitted with the third type of reference point structure, the beveragecontainer being rotated about its container axis such that the thirdtype of reference point structure is directed obliquely out of the pagerelative to the container axis.

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary, first enlarged perspective type sectional viewof the third type of reference point structure as sectioned from andotherwise depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a first enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's handholding a beverage container according to the present invention, a ringfinger of the user's hand covering the third type of reference pointstructure for providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 7 is a second enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's handholding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumbof the user's hand covering the first type of reference point structurefor providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 8 is a first elevational view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage container with afirst container wall construction outfitted with the fourth type ofreference point structure and a lid construction, the beverage containerbeing rotated about its container axis such that the fourth type ofreference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the pagerelative to the container axis.

FIG. 8A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage containerassembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a second elevational view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage container with asecond container wall construction outfitted with the fourth type ofreference point structure and a lid construction, the beverage containerbeing rotated about its container axis such that the fourth type ofreference point structure is directed orthogonally out of the pagerelative to the container axis.

FIG. 9A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage containerassembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a third elevational view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage container with athird container wall construction outfitted with (1) both (a) the fourthtype of reference point structure and (b) a fifth type of referencepoint structure and (2) a lid construction, the beverage container beingrotated about its container axis such that the fourth type of referencepoint structure is directed orthogonally out of the page relative to thecontainer axis.

FIG. 10A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage containerassembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a fourth elevational view of a beverage container assemblyaccording to the present invention showing a beverage container with afourth container wall construction outfitted with (1) both (a) thefourth type of reference point structure and (b) the fifth type ofreference point structure and (2) a lid construction, the beveragecontainer being rotated about its container axis such that the fourthtype of reference point structure is directed orthogonally out of thepage relative to the container axis.

FIG. 11A is a transverse type sectional view of the beverage containerassembly as sectioned from and otherwise depicted in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11B is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional depiction of a singlefifth type of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwiseshown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional depiction of the fourthtype of reference point structure as sectioned from and otherwise shownin FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a third enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's handholding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumbof the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structurefor providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged top perspective type depiction of a user's handholding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumbof the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structurefor providing the user with tactile sensory information.

FIG. 14 is a fourth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user'shand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, athumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference pointstructure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of referencepoint structure) for providing the user with tactile sensoryinformation, the beverage container being positioned in superioradjacency to a container support structure and a lid constructionexploded from the beverage container.

FIG. 15 is a fifth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's handholding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumbof the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure(in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference pointstructure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, thebeverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a containersupport structure and a lid construction being attached to the beveragecontainer.

FIG. 16 is a sixth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user's handholding a beverage container according to the present invention, a thumbof the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference point structure(in longitudinal alignment with the third type of reference pointstructure) for providing the user with tactile sensory information, thebeverage container being positioned in superior adjacency to a containersupport structure and a lid construction being exploded from thebeverage container, the fourth type of reference point structure beingoutfitted with visually perceptible logo information.

FIG. 17 is a seventh enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user'shand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, athumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference pointstructure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of referencepoint structure) for providing the user with tactile sensoryinformation, the beverage container being positioned in superioradjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction beingattached to the beverage container, the fourth type of reference pointstructure being outfitted with visually perceptible logo information.

FIG. 18 is an eighth enlarged diagrammatic type depiction of a user'shand holding a beverage container according to the present invention, athumb of the user's hand covering the fourth type of reference pointstructure (in longitudinal alignment with the third type of referencepoint structure) for providing the user with tactile sensoryinformation, the beverage container being positioned in superioradjacency to a container support structure and a lid construction beingexploded from the beverage container, the fourth type of reference pointstructure being outfitted with visually perceptible logo information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND ASSOCIATEDMETHODOLOGIES

Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferredembodiments of the present invention primarily concern a disposable typebeverage container assembly 10 for enhancing a user's ability tomanually orient the beverage container assembly 10 for efficient andsafe beverage consumption. In other words, the beverage containerassembly 10 according to the present invention basically functions toprevent scalding of the user from accidentally spilled hot beverage byenhancing the user's ability to properly orient the beverage containerassembly relative to one's mouth prior to consumption.

For example, when a user's visual sensory preceptors or eyes areotherwise tasked such as while driving, the user becomes necessarilydistracted by the primary visual task at hand. The user may wish toperform a secondary task such as consuming hot beverage(s) whileperforming the primary task. In order to enhance the safety of thesimultaneously performing both the primary and secondary tasks, thebeverage container assembly 10 according to the present inventionprovides the user with tactile sensory information for enabling the userto properly and/or manually orient the beverage container assemblyrelative to the user's mouth so that spillage does not occur.

Given that a primary objective of the present disclosures is to providea beverage container assembly 10 with primary tactile-referencing meansfor enabling the user to manually and properly orient the beveragecontainer assembly 10 in a select direction, the present inventionfurther contemplates that the primary tactile-referencing means can beutilized to orient the beverage container assembly upon a supportstructure for directing select outer container surfacing in a selectdirection so as to display the select outer container surfacing topassersby or audiences, or would-be consumers.

A further example of the need to properly align a lid constructionrelative to a container construction is in the case of paper-baseddisposable hot beverage (e.g. coffee) cups, which cups often comprise alongitudinal seam. If the primary beverage outlet of a lid constructionis oriented relative to the longitudinal seam or is near proximitythereto, hot beverage leakage or spillage via gaps at thelid-to-container seam junction. The gaps are created due to imperfectsurface transitions at the seam site. In order to prevent spillage, itis often necessary to orient the primary beverage outlet 180 rotationaldegrees from the seam site. Accordingly, lid orientation relative to thecontainer base is often important for avoiding inadvertent spillage.

The beverage container assembly 10 according to the present inventionsand disclosures are thus contemplated to provide certain low-cost,disposable container-based means for safeguarding a user or hot beverageconsumer from accidental spillage of hot beverage from a beveragecontainer so as to prevent scalding primarily and/or spillagesecondarily. The beverage container assembly 10 according to the presentinvention preferably comprises, in combination a disposable beveragecontainer as at 11 and a disposable lid construction as at 12.

The beverage container 11 preferably comprises outer container wallsurfacing as at 13 and an upper container rim as at 14. The outercontainer wall surfacing 13 is preferably outfitted with certain primarytactile-referencing means as exemplified by various types ofconstructions, including but not limited to one or more indentation(s)as at 15, one or more raised protuberances as at 16; or one or moreareas of textured surfacing (i.e. areas of relatively minutely sizedindentations and protuberances as compared to indentations 15 orprotuberances 16) as at 17.

The primary tactile-referencing means according to the present inventionare outfitted at or upon the outer container surfacing 13 so as tobasically provide the user with a tactile primary reference point 18 (astructure that is structurally distinctive from the typically smoothouter container surfacing 13), which primary reference point 18 mayprovide the user with readily identifiable or distinguishable tactiletype sensory information via the user's primary tactile sensors (e.g.one's fingers 19 particularly or skin 20 generally).

Although beverage container assembly 10 according to the presentinvention contemplates reference point(s) that may provide the user withreadily identifiable or distinguishable tactile type sensory informationvia the user's primary tactile sensors (e.g. one's fingers 19particularly or skin 20 generally), it is further contemplated that thebeverage container assembly 10 could be outfitted with certain means forcooperably associating with other types of non-tactile type sensors,such as laser beams, reflector sensors, mating sensors, etc. for use inautomatic delivery systems.

The user, when receiving the tactile type sensory information via theuser's tactile sensor(s) as exemplified by one's fingers 19, may thusmore easily orient (e.g. rotate 101 the beverage container 11 about acontainer axis of rotation as at 100) the beverage container so as toplace or orient select outer container surfacing of the beveragecontainer in a direction that is most conducive to beverage consumption,and do so without the need for or requirement of visual sensoryinformation.

For example, the select outer container surfacing 13 may be oriented ina direction that opposed or faces a user's mouth. Alternatively, theselect outer container surfacing 13 may be oriented in a direction thatopposes or faces an audience or passersby. In this last regard, it iscontemplated that the primary tactile-referencing means may be utilizedso as to direct or orient the select outer container surfacing 13 in adirection that is most conducive to show or display visual sensoryinformation (e.g. branding information or a logo 21) to an audience orpassersby.

The lid construction 12 may be preferably oriented and outfitted uponthe beverage container 11 such that the primary beverage outlet 22 ofthe lid construction 12 is in longitudinal alignment with the primarytactile-referencing means. When so oriented and outfitted upon thebeverage container 11, the primary tactile-referencing means (asexemplified by the primary reference point 18) help the user align theprimary beverage outlet 22 so as to oppose or face the user's mouth forsafer beverage consumption (e.g. the avoidance of spillage of hotbeverage prevents inadvertent scalding of the user).

Stated another way, the primary tactile-referencing means are preferablysituated in inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet 22 so thatwhen the primary tactile-referencing means are manually oriented in thepreferred direction, the primary beverage outlet 22 similarly faces oris directed in the preferred direction. The primary beverage outlet 22is thus preferably situated in superior adjacency to the select outercontainer surfacing 13.

The lid construction 12 preferably comprises a lower rim-engagingstructure such as a rim-receiving groove that receives and/or engagesthe container rim 14 for fastening the lid construction 12 to thecontainer 11. The lid construction further comprises a lid perimeter andthe primary beverage outlet 22. The primary beverage outlet 22 ispreferably located inwardly and radially adjacent to the lid perimeteras generally depicted in the figures supporting these specifications.

The rim-engaging structure is attachable to the upper container rim 14such that the primary beverage outlet 22 becomes situated in superioradjacency to the select outer container wall surfacing 13. The selectouter container wall surfacing 13 comprises the primarytactile-referencing means, which are in inferior adjacency to theprimary beverage outlet 22 (or in longitudinal alignment with theprimary beverage outlet 22) for enhancing the user's ability toreference the primary beverage outlet 22 via the primarytactile-referencing means or primary reference point 18.

The outer wall surfacing 13 is preferably circular in transversecross-section, and the primary tactile-referencing means or primaryreference point 18 may preferably extend radially inwardly from theouter wall surfacing 13 for enhancing the user's ability to referencethe primary beverage outlet 22 via partial manual insertion of a user'stactile sensor or finger 19 into the radially inwardly extended (i.e.indented) primary tactile-referencing means as at indentations 15.

The primary tactile-referencing means or reference point, in certainembodiments, may also extend in an upward (or downward) direction fromthe container bottom 25 as generally depicted in FIGS. 4-6. Theembodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6 provide primary tactile-referencing meansor a primary reference point 18 that has multi-functionality. Firstly,the primary reference point 18 in FIGS. 4-6 provides the user with meansto manually orient the select outer container surfacing 13 of thecontainer 11 in the preferred direction. Secondly, however, the primaryreference point 18 may be mated with underlying structure so as toretain the outer container surfacing 13 in the preferred direction suchas when the container is supported by a support structure or basestructure as at 23 such as a serving table or automated deliveryplatform.

The support or base structure 23 may be provided with a certain basalprotuberance as at 24 that is matable with the indentation type primaryreference point 18, and thus the select outer container surfacing 13 maybe retained in the preferred direction when the container 11 is matedwith the support structure 23 via the indentation type primary referencepoint 18 and the basal protuberance 24. It is contemplated that theprimary reference point 18 may alternatively take on more of a male typeprotuberance structure that is matable with a female type indentationformed on the support structure. Although not specifically illustratedand referenced as such in the figures supporting these specifications,such an arrangement is believed within the ordinary comprehension ofthose skilled in the art.

When the primary tactile-referencing means are exemplified by a primaryreference point 18 of the type generally depicted in FIGS. 4-6, it isbelieved that the container 11 may be further outfitted with secondarytactile-referencing means or secondary reference point 26 as alsoexemplified by various types of constructions, including but not limitedto one or more indentation(s) as at 15, one or more raised protuberancesas at 16; or one or more areas of textured surfacing (i.e. areas ofrelatively minutely sized indentations and protuberances as compared toindentations 15 or protuberances 16) as at 17; and/or combinationsthereof.

Noting that the outer wall surfacing 13 is preferably circular intransverse cross-section, the primary or secondary tactile-referencingmeans may alternatively extend radially outwardly from the outer wallsurfacing 13 for enhancing the user's ability to reference the primarybeverage outlet 22 via engagement of the user's tactile sensor or finger19 with the radially outwardly extended primary tactile-referencingmeans or primary reference point 18.

The radially outwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means maycomprise or be defined by area of textured surfacing 17, which area maycomprise any number of shapes. A circular area 27 of textured surfacing17 is generally depicted in FIGS. 2 and 2A, and a rectangular or squarearea 28 of textured surfacing 17 is generally depicted in FIGS. 3 and3A. The areas of textured surfacing effectively increase the surfacecontact area between the user's tactile sensor or finger(s) 19 and theprimary or secondary tactile-referencing means for increasing the amountof tactile sensory information available to the user via the user'stactile sensor.

The beverage container 11 inherently has or comprises a container bottom25 and a substantially uniform container height as at 102. ReferencingFIG. 14, the reader will see that the container height is essentiallydefined by the distance intermediate the container bottom 25 and thecontainer rim 14. The primary or secondary tactile-referencing means, asexemplified by the primary or secondary reference points 18 or 26, maypreferably extend height-wise or longitudinally intermediate thecontainer bottom 25 and the container rim 14 a distance 103 less thanthe container height 102.

The height-wise or longitudinally extended primary (or secondary)tactile-referencing means effectively function to increase the surfacecontact area for providing tactile sensory information distinguishablefrom the typically smooth outer container surfacing 13. Thelongitudinally extended primary (or secondary) tactile-referencing meansfurther direct the user's tactile sensor or finger 19 toward the primarybeverage outlet as marked with a X at 22′ in FIG. 12, arrows 104depicting finger movement toward the outlet marked X at 22′.

The beverage container 11 may further preferably comprise inner wallsurfacing as at 29, which inner wall surfacing 29 may be preferablyseparated from the outer wall surfacing 13 with thermally-insulativematerials and/or construction(s) as at 30. Referencing FIGS. 9A, 10A,11A, 11B, and 11C, the reader will note that the primarytactile-referencing means and thermally-insulative material(s) and/orconstructions 30 extend intermediate the inner wall surfacing 29 and theouter wall surfacing 13 for thermally insulating the beverage container11 while simultaneously providing the reference point 18.

Comparatively referencing FIGS. 10A and 11A, the reader will note thatthe wall construction of the container 11 may be either single layeredas generally depicted in FIG. 10A or multi-layered as generally depictedin FIG. 11A. It is contemplated that the primary tactile-referencingmeans may either extend entirely through the wall construction asgenerally depicted in FIG. 10A or partially through the wallconstruction as generally depicted in FIG. 11A.

Referencing FIGS. 10, 10A, and 11A, the reader will further note thatthe beverage container assembly 10 according to the present inventionmay further provide outer wall surfacing 13 comprising certain secondaryor tertiary tactile-referencing means as at reference point(s) 31. Thesecondary or tertiary nature of the reference points 31 depend onwhether the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted with thecontainer bottom-based reference point 18 as generally depicted in FIGS.14-18.

When the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted with the containerbottom-based primary reference point 18 as depicted in FIGS. 14-18, thesecondary tactile-referencing means are exemplified by the secondaryreference point structure 26, and the tertiary tactile-referencing meansare exemplified by the tertiary reference point structure(s) 31.Alternatively, when the beverage container assembly 10 is outfitted withthe outer container surfacing-based primary reference point containerbottom-based reference point 18 as depicted in FIGS. 1-13, the secondarytactile-referencing means are exemplified by the secondary referencepoint structure(s) 31.

The primary tactile-referencing means function to provide first tactilesensory information, the secondary tactile-referencing means function toprovide second tactile sensory information, and if the beveragecontainer assembly 10 is outfitted with tertiary tactile-referencingmeans, said tertiary tactile-referencing means function to provide thirdtactile sensory information. The first, second, and possibly thirdtactile sensory information types are different or structurallydistinguishable for enabling the user to distinguish the primary,secondary and/or tertiary tactile-referencing means via the first,second, and/or third tactile sensory information for enhancing theuser's ability to manually orient the beverage container assembly 10primary via the first tactile sensory information or primary referencepoint 18.

Referencing FIGS. 10A and 11A, the reader will note that the secondaryor tertiary reference points 31 may be preferably circumferentially andperiodically spaced about the periphery of the container 11 at the outercontainer surfacing 13 for directing the user's tactile sensor towardthe primary tactile-referencing means. The reference points 31 mayeither be defined as indentation type structures 15 as illustrated or asprotuberance type structures (not specifically illustrated) given thetypically or preferably smooth outer container surfacing 13. Thesecondary or tertiary reference points 31 contribute increased contactsurface area so as to enhance the user's ability to discern referencepoint structure and increase friction (grip-ability) between the user'stactile sensors or fingers and the beverage container assembly 10.

While the foregoing specifications set forth much specificity, the sameshould not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention butrather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. Forexample, as prefaced hereinabove, it is contemplated that the presentinvention essentially provides a container assembly for enabling a userto effectively and manually orient said container assembly by providingtactile sensory informatory cues upon the exterior containerconstruction.

The container assembly according to the present invention thuspreferably and essentially comprises a container (as at 11), whichcontainer comprises certain exterior container structure such as acontainer bottom as at 25 and/or select outer container surfacing as at13. The exterior container structure comprises primarytactile-referencing means as hereinabove exemplified for providing firsttactile sensory information, which primary tactile-referencing means arein longitudinal alignment with the select outer container surfacing forenabling the user to manually orient the container via said firsttactile sensory information.

The container assembly according to the present invention may furtherpreferably comprise a container stand or support structure as at 23. Thecontainer support structure or container stand preferably comprisescertain reference-mating means, which reference-mating means are matablewith the primary tactile-referencing means for enabling the user toeffectively and manually orient the container 11 relative to thecontainer support structure 23.

It is contemplated in this regard, that the primary tactile-referencingmeans may comprise either female or male type structure matable witheither male or female type reference-mating means. Female type primarytactile-referencing means have been exemplified in these specificationsand the drawings in support thereof for purposes of brevity, it beingwell understood within the art that either matable scenario is plausibleaccording to the present invention.

The container assembly according to the present invention may furtherpreferably comprise a lid construction as at 12. The lid construction 12according to the present invention preferably comprises a primary(beverage) outlet (as at 22) and is attachable to the container suchthat the select outer container surfacing is located in inferioradjacency to or in longitudinal alignment with the primary outlet. Theprimary tactile-referencing means essentially function to enable theuser to reference via tactile sensation the lid-based primary outlet viathe container-based primary tactile-referencing means.

The container of the container assembly preferably comprises asubstantially uniform container height as at 102. The primary (orsecondary) tactile-referencing means extend longitudinally a certaindistance (as at 103) less than or equal to the container height 102 forincreasing the height-wise or longitudinal tactile surface contact areaavailable to the user's tactile sensor as exemplified by a finger 19.

The container of the container assembly according to the presentinvention may further preferably comprise a thermally-insulativematerial construction. The primary tactile-referencing means may extendinto or be otherwise cooperably associated with the thermally-insulativematerial construction so as to simultaneously thermally insulate thecontainer while providing said primary tactile-referencing means.

The container assembly according to the present invention may furthercomprise secondary tactile-referencing means in addition to the primarytactile-referencing means. The primary tactile-referencing means providefirst tactile sensory information or sensations and the secondarytactile-referencing means provide second tactile sensory information orsensations. The first and second tactile sensory information aresensitively different for enabling the user to manually distinguish theprimary and secondary tactile-referencing means via the first and secondtactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manuallyorient the container.

The container assembly according to the present invention may furtherpreferably comprise certain tertiary tactile-referencing means inaddition to the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means. Theprimary and secondary tactile-referencing means are preferablylongitudinally aligned, while the tertiary tactile-referencing means arepreferably periodically and circumferentially spaced relative to theprimary and secondary tactile-referencing means.

The primary and secondary tactile-referencing means provide a first setof tactile sensory information, while the tertiary tactile-referencingmeans provide a second set of tactile sensory information. The first andsecond sets of tactile sensory information are different for enablingthe user to sensitively distinguish the primary and secondary versustertiary tactile-referencing means via the first and second sets oftactile sensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manuallyorient the container.

Further, it is contemplated that the foregoing specifications supportcertain container assembly orientation method(s) for enabling a user tomanually orient a container assembly. The method(s) according to thepresent invention may be said to preferably comprise the step ofinitially outfitting a container (as at 11) with certain primarytactile-referencing means. The primary tactile-referencing means arepreferably outfitted upon exterior container structure for providingfirst tactile sensory information and are in longitudinal alignment withthe select outer container surfacing.

The primary tactile-referencing means are located via a user's tactilesensor as typically defined or exemplified by a user's finger. Theoutfitted container may thus be manually oriented so as to selectivelyorient the select outer container surfacing in a first direction. Thecontainer assembly orientation method according to the present inventionmay further comprise the steps of providing a container support asexemplified by support structure 23, which container support ispreferably outfitted with certain reference-mating means. The primarytactile-referencing means may thus be mated with the reference-matingmeans. The mated primary tactile-referencing means and reference-matingmeans basically function to fixedly orient the container such aspreventing the container from rotation about its axis 100.

The container assembly orientation according to the present inventionmay further comprise the steps of providing a lid construction, whichlid construction preferably comprises a primary outlet. The containermay then be outfitted with the lid construction after rotating the lidconstruction about its axis such that the select outer containersurfacing is located in inferior adjacency to the primary outlet. Theprimary tactile-referencing means thus enable the user to manually alignthe primary (beverage) outlet so as to orient the outlet more properlyat the user's mouth.

The container assembly orientation method may be said to furtherpreferably comprise the step of outfitting the container with secondarytactile-referencing means, which secondary tactile-referencing means areoutfitted upon exterior container structure in longitudinal alignmentwith the primary tactile-referencing means. The longitudinally alignedprimary and secondary tactile-referencing means reinforce select manualorientation of the container by providing sensitively distinguishablestructure and added contact surface area to the user for enhancedcontainer manipulation.

The container assembly orientation method may further comprise the stepof outfitting the container with certain tertiary tactile-referencingmeans. The tertiary tactile-referencing means are preferablyperiodically and circumferentially spaced relative to the(longitudinally aligned) primary and secondary tactile-referencingmeans. While the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means providea first set of tactile sensory information, the tertiarytactile-referencing means provide a second set of tactile sensoryinformation. The first and second sets of tactile sensory informationare sensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish theprimary and secondary versus tertiary tactile-referencing means via thefirst and second sets of tactile sensory information for enhancing theuser's ability to manually orient the container.

Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference tocertain preferred embodiments and certain methodologies, it is notintended that the novel arrangement and methods be limited thereby, butthat modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling withinthe broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures, and theappended claims and drawings.

I claim:
 1. A beverage container assembly, the beverage containerassembly for enhancing a user's ability to manually orient said beveragecontainer assembly for beverage consumption, said beverage containerassembly comprising, in combination: a beverage container and a lidconstruction, the beverage container comprising outer container wallsurfacing, the lid construction comprising a lid perimeter and a primarybeverage outlet, the primary beverage outlet being located inwardlyadjacent to the lid perimeter, the lid construction being attachable tothe beverage container such that the primary beverage outlet becomessituated in superior adjacency to the outer container wall surfacing,the outer container wall surfacing comprising primarytactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means beingin inferior adjacency to the primary beverage outlet for enhancing auser's ability to reference the primary beverage outlet via the primarytactile-referencing means, the beverage container assembly thus forenhancing a user's ability to manually orient said beverage containerassembly for beverage consumption.
 2. The beverage container assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the primary tactile-referencing means extend inwardlyfrom the outer wall surfacing for enhancing the user's ability toreference the primary beverage outlet via partial manual insertion of auser's tactile sensor into the inwardly extended primarytactile-referencing means.
 3. The beverage container assembly of claim 1wherein the primary tactile-referencing means extend outwardly from theouter wall surfacing for enhancing the user's ability to reference theprimary beverage outlet via engagement a user's tactile sensor withoutwardly extended primary tactile-referencing means.
 4. The beveragecontainer assembly of claim 3 wherein the outwardly extended primarytactile-referencing means comprise textured surfacing, the texturedsurfacing for increasing the surface contact area between the user'stactile sensor and the primary tactile-referencing means.
 5. Thebeverage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the beverage containercomprises a container bottom and a container height, the primarytactile-referencing means extending longitudinally a distance less thanthe container height, the longitudinally extended primarytactile-referencing means for increasing the tactile surface contactarea available to the user's tactile sensor and for directing the user'stactile sensor toward the primary beverage outlet.
 6. The beveragecontainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the beverage container comprisesinner wall surfacing and thermally-insulative material, the primarytactile-referencing means and thermally-insulative material extendingintermediate the inner wall surfacing and the outer wall surfacing forthermally insulating the beverage container assembly while providingsaid primary tactile-referencing means.
 7. The beverage containerassembly of claim 1 wherein the outer wall surfacing comprises secondarytactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means forproviding first tactile sensory information, the secondarytactile-referencing means for providing second tactile sensoryinformation, the first and second tactile sensory information beingsensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish the primaryand secondary tactile-referencing means via the first and second tactilesensory information for enhancing the user's ability to manually orientthe beverage container.
 8. The beverage container assembly of claim 7wherein the secondary tactile-referencing means are periodically andcircumferentially spaced relative to the primary tactile-referencingmeans for directing the user's tactile sensor toward the primarytactile-referencing means.
 9. A container assembly, the containerassembly for enabling a user to manually orient said container assemblyin a select direction, said container assembly comprising: a container,the container comprising exterior container structure and select outercontainer surfacing, the exterior container structure comprising primarytactile-referencing means, the primary tactile-referencing means forproviding first tactile sensory information and being in longitudinalalignment with the select outer container surfacing for enabling theuser to manually orient the container such that the select outercontainer surfacing is directed in a select direction.
 10. The containerassembly of claim 9 comprising a container support structure, thecontainer support structure comprising reference-mating means, thereference-mating means being matable with the primarytactile-referencing means for preventing re-orientation of the containerafter mated engagement therebetween.
 11. The container assembly of claim9 comprising a lid construction, the lid construction comprising aprimary outlet, the lid construction being attachable to the containersuch that the select outer container surfacing is located in inferioradjacency to the primary outlet, the primary tactile-referencing meansfor enabling the user to reference the primary outlet via the primarytactile-referencing means.
 12. The container assembly of claim 9 whereinthe container comprises a container height, the primarytactile-referencing means extending longitudinally within the containerheight for directing the user's tactile sensor along the select outercontainer surfacing.
 13. The container assembly of claim 9 wherein thecontainer comprises a thermally-insulative material construction, theprimary tactile-referencing means extending into thethermally-insulative material construction, the thermally insulatingmaterial construction for thermally insulating the container whilesimultaneously providing said primary tactile-referencing means.
 14. Thecontainer assembly of claim 9 wherein the exterior container structurecomprises secondary tactile-referencing means, the primarytactile-referencing means for providing first tactile sensoryinformation, the secondary tactile-referencing means for providingsecond tactile sensory information, the first and second tactile sensoryinformation being sensitively different for enabling the user tomanually distinguish the primary and secondary tactile-referencing meansvia the first and second tactile sensory information for enhancing theuser's ability to manually orient the container.
 15. The containerassembly of claim 14 comprising tertiary tactile-referencing means, theprimary and secondary tactile-referencing means being longitudinallyaligned, the tertiary tactile-referencing means being circumferentiallyspaced relative to the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means,the primary and secondary tactile-referencing means for providing afirst set of tactile sensory information, the tertiarytactile-referencing means for providing a second set of tactile sensoryinformation, the first and second sets of tactile sensory informationbeing sensitively different for enabling the user to distinguish theprimary and secondary versus tertiary tactile-referencing means forenhancing the user's ability to manually orient the container.
 16. Acontainer assembly orientation method for enabling a user to manuallyorient a container assembly, the method comprising the steps of:outfitting a container with primary tactile-referencing means, theprimary tactile-referencing means being outfitted upon exteriorcontainer structure for providing first tactile sensory information andbeing in longitudinal alignment with the select outer containersurfacing; locating the primary tactile-referencing means via a user'stactile sensor; and manually orienting the outfitted container so as toselectively orient the select outer container surfacing in a firstdirection.
 17. The container assembly orientation method of claim 16comprising the steps of: a. providing a container support, the containersupport being outfitted with reference-mating means; and b. mating theprimary tactile-referencing means with the reference-mating means, themated primary tactile-referencing means and reference-mating meanspreventing re-orientation of the container.
 18. The container assemblyorientation method of claim 16 comprising the steps of: a. providing alid construction, the lid construction comprising a primary outlet; andb. outfitting the container with the lid construction, the containerbeing outfitted with the lid construction such that the select outercontainer surfacing is located in inferior adjacency to the primaryoutlet.
 19. The container assembly orientation method of claim 16comprising the step of outfitting the container with secondarytactile-referencing means, the secondary tactile-referencing means beingoutfitted upon exterior container structure in longitudinal alignmentwith the primary referencing means, the longitudinally aligned primaryand secondary tactile-referencing means for reinforcing select manualorientation of the container.
 20. The container assembly orientationmethod of claim 19 comprising the step of outfitting the container withtertiary tactile-referencing means, the tertiary tactile-referencingmeans being circumferentially spaced relative to the primary andsecondary tactile-referencing means, the primary and secondarytactile-referencing means for providing a first set of tactile sensoryinformation, the tertiary tactile-referencing means for providing asecond set of tactile sensory information, the first and second sets oftactile sensory information being sensitively different for enabling theuser to distinguish the primary and secondary versus tertiarytactile-referencing for enhancing the user's ability to manually orientthe container.